SC Paderborn 9th August

[toffeejack]

people do realise that we aren't going to be undercooked for the whole season right?

we have 50 games this season, pointless us being fully fit two weeks ago, we'd be done with the business end to the season to come.

think we look fine fitness wise tbh, looked crap at the back, but we will have our settled 5 from the last few seasons there when we kick off so you won't see that being too much of an issue i'd have thought.

stop reading so much into them.

football's a weird sport, we've gone through pre-season without a victory - we'll probably end up with 7 points from our first 3 now.

 

[tommye]

Five games and no wins doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Fitness exercise, don't win cups etc etc and that.

Two things would concern me, one being that we haven't got any cohesive passing game together in pre season and secondly that we have the actual threat of a Palestinian rocket up front. Mirallas and Lukaku not playing a single minute of pre season is a bit off but I have faith Martinez knows what he's doing.

Leicester will be full into us next week on this first game back in the Premier League and in front of their home fans. Our best hope is that Coleman, Lukaku and Mirallas are fit to play at least some part. Or that we just crack on now it's competitive games.

Anyway, it's very Everton isn't it? At least it will swerve all that talk from the balloons who think we are gonna win the league and that our midfield trio is the new Holy Trinity.

Despite all that, I can't wait for next week. Weekends, anticipation and Everton are a beautiful combination.

Every single last one of yer mars.

4koff big head

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

Not too worried in the bigger scheme of things. What we have learned though is that we do not have the resources to challenge on multiple fronts sadly. The fringe players just havn't grabbed the opportunity. Will be difficult to balance the league with europa and this is new territory for Martinez. He used these last 2 friendlies as a test for league/ euro games... failed miserably.

5 f'in times...srsly?

 

[harry]

Can someone tell me the starting line up.

 

[bluelife]

They are not meaningless because they show (a) we are unfit and lacking sharpness ad (b) we have not improved at all in areas we knew we were short of last season. Most disappointingly we are still unable to perform when we're being pressed. And that goes not just for the back 4 but (Besic apart) the rest of the team. Embarassingly bad at times.

Sorry but you're just going into a meltdown over nothing. It really does not matter

 

[Ring master]

Great. We've got 3 losses for the season out of the way. Unbeaten till Christmas.

we normally only have 1 or 2 losses up till xmas in the league anyway - no problem at all, and a very good season to look forward to, i think and hope for, and expect really.

 

[chicoazul]

4koff big head

That's a whole loada brain in there Thomas. Pipe down and pay yo dues.

 

[Darth Toffeeman]

My samsung has gone mental... I have no idea how many posts of the same thing I just made ffs

 

[deipnosophist]

This thread has turned into more RAWKness than 2 hour delay when we signed Lukaku. Quality entertainment!

Hibbert was gash again, Alcaraz was gash again but we'll still smash Leicester next week.

hear hear. It's 4 am here in NZ, but I can't go to sleep because I'm laughing so much. Best thread ever?

 

[Muzumbu]

WILL LUKAKU BE BACK FOR SATURDAY?

 

[mrb85]

people do realise that we aren't going to be undercooked for the whole season right?

we have 50 games this season, pointless us being fully fit two weeks ago, we'd be done with the business end to the season to come.

think we look fine fitness wise tbh, looked crap at the back, but we will have our settled 5 from the last few seasons there when we kick off so you won't see that being too much of an issue i'd have thought.

stop reading so much into them.

football's a weird sport, we've gone through pre-season without a victory - we'll probably end up with 7 points from our first 3 now.

Absolutely no chance.

 

[DownunderToffee]

I'd rather play like crap during friendlies and actually win when it matters.

Playing for 3 points is a big motivation factor for the players, they'll pull their thumbs out when it matters.

 

[Darth Toffeeman]

5 f'in times...srsly?

Samsung galaxy tabs are ****

 

[II McColl II]

results have obviously been disappointing but the biggest worry for me is the players don't look fit enough to complete 90 minutes. Baines was f****d at the end of the game, barry barely moved except for the odd jog. Mcgeady can't be relied upon as a starting winger, he has the findamentals of a top level winger but then can't complete a pass to save his life.

With only a week to go and what i would think our strongest line up should be most of them don't look fit enough

Howard

Coleman - Jags - Distin - Baines

McCarthy - Barry

Mirallas - Barkley - Pienaar

Lukaku​

3 of that 11 i would say look ready to play the full 90 in the first league game. Coleman, Mirallas, Lukaku have pretty much had no pre season match fitness opportunities so have no chance of a full 90 minutes. Jags, Distin, Baines, Barry, Pienaar are all looking at about 70% fit so i doubt they will have much in the tank after 75 minutes or so.

I get that the world cup has meant planning this pre season has been a struggle but this is by far the worst pre season i have witnessed that i can remember.

 

[mrb85]

WILL LUKAKU BE BACK FOR SATURDAY?

What if he is? Every other player would have to perform 50% better than they have so far just to bring him in to play!